Metro News Release

For immediate release: August 1, 2007

Metro Board Chairman's Statement on Federal Funding of Metro

Legislation to support new federal funding for Metro capital improvements passed a Senate Committee today. S. 1446, the "National Capital Transportation Amendments Act of 2007" was approved by the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and now moves onto the full Senate. There is a similar House bill awaiting action by the full House.

The Senate bill was co-sponsored by the entire Metropolitan Washington area congressional delegation, including Maryland Senators Benjamin Cardin and Barbara Mikulski and Virginia Senators John Warner and James Webb. The proposed legislation renews the federal government’s commitment to provide funding for the Metro system.  Every Congress and Administration since the Eisenhower Administration has supported the Metro system, which was built primarily to serve the federal government. The bill, subject to annual appropriations, will provide $1.5 billion over 10 years in federal money to Metro for capital improvements and critical maintenance.

After learning of the passage, Metro Board Chair Elizabeth M. Hewlett said, "We at Metro, as well as the entire region, are very pleased and appreciative that the area congressional delegation and Senate committee has acted to support federal funding to keep the Metro system in a state of good repair so that we can continue to efficiently serve the federal workforce, which constitutes much of our ridership. The District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia will continue to work closely with Congress to provide Metro stable funding, which is critical to the health, safety and growth of the system."

News release issued at 12:00 am, August 1, 2007.